China - Glazed Terracotta Food Table - Ming Dynasty

This miniature terracotta table, covered in green and honey glazes typical of Ming period funerary workshops, is a fine example of furniture intended to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. Raised on a tubular base glazed in a deep green, the table supports a rectangular top imitating wood, patinated with signs of age and exhibiting perfectly consistent areas of oxidation. On top, various trays and bowls are carefully arranged, each containing stylized representations of food: piles of fruit, loaves of bread, cakes, rolls, or ceremonial offerings. The rounded shapes, irregular glazes, and bold hues ranging from green and honey to beige tones attest to a popular yet spiritually charged production, in keeping with Ming funerary practices where symbolic abundance ensured prosperity and protection for the deceased in the afterlife. The ensemble, homogeneous and strikingly present, recreates this miniature world of funeral rites: a banquet frozen for eternity, an expression of filial respect and domestic continuity. Origin: China Period: Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) Dimensions: Length 26.5 cm; Width 16.5 cm; Height 21 cm Provenance: French private collection.